Penicillin in Prevention of Tetanus

Abstract

Each of 22 strains of Clostridium tetani was inhibited in-vitro by 0.05 unit of penicillin/ml, but a proportion of the organisms of each strain survived exposure to penicillin with their properties unchanged. To control experimental infection in mice with penicillin it is necessary to maintain the serum-penicillin concentration above the in-vitro sensitivity level for at least 3-4 days. Although C. tetani infection in mice could be effectively controlled with penicillin, spores could survive in the tissues and be reactivated to cause fatal tetanus. Penicillin was unable to prevent tetanus in mice when given late after infection, at a time when antitoxin was effective. Penicillin failed to prevent tetanus when the spores were injected together with penicillinase-producing staphylococci. Non-immune wounded persons who receive penicillin prophylaxis should also be given and injection of adsorbed tetanus toxoid at the same time which would serve as the first dose of a full course of active immunization.